Commuter Rail Schedules Initiative North Side

Transcription

1 Commuter Rail Schedules Initiative North Side

2 SCOPE: MISSION & CONSTRAINTS NORTH Project Mission: STATION Create Reliable and Resilient Commuter Rail Schedules Create Efficient and Logical Equipment Movements Constraints: Amount of Equipment Existing Track and Station Infrastructure Capacity Convenient Arrival/Departure Times at North Station for Commuters Amtrak Services

3 SCOPE: PROCESS NORTH STATION Information and Data Collection Schedule Development Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) Modeling Output Analyzed and Schedules Refined Final Schedules Developed Long-Term Plan for Operations

4 SCHEDULE DEVELOPMENT: SYSTEM-WIDE Assumptions: No new major infrastructure projects will be developed in 2015, except for the Fitchburg Line. Fitchburg improvements include a new station and layover facility at Wachusett, and track and signal upgrades. Express trains will run from Fitchburg to Porter Square in 1 hour. 25 North Side Trainsets Available Boston Engine Terminal Operations Existing Amtrak Schedules Considered

5 SCHEDULE DEVELOPMENT: DESTINATIONS North ORTH Station STATION Walk and Transit Times Assumes majority of commuters will access jobs in major centers that are a minute walk or transit trip from North Station, such as Post Office Square, Back Bay, or Cambridge Reverse commuters to key locations such as Route 128 region, I-495 Region, and Lowell Standardizes Rush Periods

6 BENEFITS: EQUIPMENT Preventing Cascading Delays by Eliminating Interlined Trains Creating Standardized Minimum15- Minute Turn Times (Haverhill has 20- Minute Turns) and Reduction of Scheduled Long-Dwells at North Station Optimization of Corridor Capacity through RTC Analysis Maintenance and Processing Time at BET Considered and Reflected in Schedules and Modeled in RTC Incorporation of Fitchburg Line Infrastructure

7 BENEFITS: PASSENGER EXPERIENCE Increased Peak Train Service Additional Peak Express Service from Outer Points Evenly Spaced Peak Service from Inner Core Stations Optimized Peak Arrival and Departures from North Station for Key Job Start and End Times Efficient Train Movements at North Station to Mitigate Crowding Standardized Peak Box AM Peak North Station Arrival: 6:00-9:00 PM Peak North Station Departure: 3:30-6:30 Regular Off-Peak Departure Times

8 RESOURCES REQUIRED New Runbook to Reflect Finalized Schedules Coordination and Training of Crew and Maintenance Staff for New Schedule Procedures and Policies BET Maintenance Planning and Organization Potentially Hire Crew and Staff Based on Requirements Identified

9 FITCHBURG LINE: SUMMARY Travel Time Improvements due to New Infrastructure and Improved Express Service One Additional AM and PM Peak Roundtrip Express Train One Additional AM and PM Peak Roundtrip Local Train Two AM Reverse Commute Trains to Job Centers in Waltham and Littleton/495 Two PM Inbound Trains Scheduled for Reverse Commuters and Garden/Fenway Event Start Times

10 LOWELL LINE: SUMMARY Peak 30-Minute Headways with one Additional Local Roundtrip One Peak Express Roundtrip Consistent Hourly Local Off-Peak Service Four PM Inbound Trains Scheduled for Reverse Commuters and Garden/Fenway Event Start Times

11 HAVERHILL LINE: SUMMARY Schedule will be revisited when double track to Vale and Merrimack River Bridge Projects are Complete Similar Peak Schedules as Existing due to Infrastructure Constraints Flattened Off-Peak Service Providing Consistent Departure Times PM Inbound Trains Scheduled for Reverse Commuters and Garden/Fenway Event Start Times

12 NEWBURYPORT/ROCKPORT LINES: SUMMARY Improved Rockport Peak Express Service with One Additional Roundtrip Train Improved Newburyport Peak Service with Express Service and One Additional Roundtrip Train New Peak Inner Core Service from Beverley to North Station Flattened Off-Peak Local Service to Newburyport and Rockport Evening Event Train Better Separation of Oncoming Traffic at Salem Tunnel

13 POTENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS Identification of areas to modernize infrastructure, streamline transit times and increase layover capacity. Examples in North Station Terminal Area include: 6 Track Charles River Drawbridges including Reconnection of Station Tracks 11 & 12 Relocation of Fitchburg Main Lines BET Expansion Reconfiguration of FX Interlocking Potential Draw Bridge Expansion for Larger Station Reinstate Existing Outof-Service Station Tracks

14 POTENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS Reconfigured Tower A Interlocking o Higher Speeds Through Terminal Limits o Allows for Higher Volumes of Commuter Traffic o Efficient Train Movements for Station Routing Replacement Drawbridges Improved Interlocking